Orange County prosecutors contend that Angel Alberto Cruz Perez, 23, of Santa Ana, bought and drank four buckets of beer with a friend at Mariscos Ensenada Restaurante in Santa Ana on Nov. 9. BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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On Thursday, Nov. 10, a television news crew photographs from the spot of a large blood stain at the intersection of Fifth Street at North Bewley Street in Santa Ana. Darwin Almeida, 2, died Wednesday night after being struck by a driver charged with vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated plus felony hit-and-run. BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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A mother and her two children were crossing Fifth Street at North Bewley Street in Santa Ana about 6:20 p.m. when they were struck by an SUV, police said. BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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A mother and her two children were crossing Fifth Street at North Bewley Street in Santa Ana about 6:20 p.m. on Nov. 9 when they were struck by an SUV, police said. BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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On Thursday, Nov. 10, a woman and her child walk through the same intersection where Farwin Almeida, 2, was killed by a man later charged with vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated plus felony hit-and-run. BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Leonardo Almeida, 30, and Yesenia Romero, 26, are shown with their daughter, Gloria. Their son, Darwin, was killed. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

SANTA ANA – Dozens of readers have offered to help the family of a 2-year-old boy killed last week by a man charged with vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and felony hit-and-run.

People have called or written to find out how they can help the parents and sister of Darwin Almeida, a boy his parents described as loving and whose favorite movie was "Cars."

One of the e-mails of support came from a man who was unemployed and others said they didn't have much, but wanted to help.

"I just read your story about that little boy and it breaks my heart," one reader wrote. "If there is anything I can do to help the family, please let me know. I am currently unemployed but I would still be willing to try and help with anything."

"I read your story on November 11 (Police ID boy killed in crosswalk) and was heartbroken," another reader wrote. "I would like to help the family in any way that I'm capable. Do you know if there has been a fund or event set up to help the family cope with their loss?"

On Tuesday, the family set up a Wells Fargo account they say will help them pay for funeral expenses. Donations can be made to the Daniel L. Almeida account, number 7296395382.

Another reader, Jose Delgado, 31, of Garden Grove, said he has three sons, including a 1-year-old boy, and felt compelled to start a collection for the family. So this week, Delgado said he grabbed a shoe box and started collecting donations from coworkers.

"I was really heartbroken," Delgado said when he called the Register on Wednesday. "My little boy likes "Cars," too. He was just starting life. He was two years old."

Darwin's mother, Yesenia Romero, said she and her husband are trying to cope with the loss of their son, but are trying to be strong for their 22-month-old daughter.

"She looks for her older brother," Romero said of her daughter. "She says her brother's name."

Darwin was killed when his mother was crossing Fifth Street at North Bewley Street at about 6:20 p.m. on Wednesday. She was carrying her daughter, Gloria, in one arm and holding Darwin by the hand as they walked to the store to buy milk.

Romero said she thought the driver of a 1998 Toyota 4Runner saw her because he stopped, but as she began to cross the street, he started driving. Authorities later identified the driver as Angel Alberto Cruz Perez, 23, of Santa Ana, who did not have a driver's license.

Witnesses said the 4Runner rammed into Romero and Darwin. The force of the impact caused Romero to lose her grip on Darwin's hand and he was pulled underneath the SUV, authorities said.

Romero and her daughter were partially lifted onto the hood of the vehicle, police said, before falling off – with the SUV driving away.

The father of the children, Leonardo Almeida, was working at a tire shop across the street when he heard a loud crash and screaming. He said he ran out and saw his family lying on the pavement.

Darwin, who was three months shy of his 3rd birthday, was taken to UCI Medical Center in Orange, but died en route. Romero suffered abrasions to her knees when she was knocked to the ground. Gloria was unharmed.

Using a license-plate number provided by witnesses, police tracked the SUV to a mobile-home park in the 1300 block of North Clinton Street, a little more than a mile away.

Perez was taken into custody after failing a field sobriety test, police said. According to prosecutors, Perez bought and drank four buckets of bottled beer with a friend at Mariscos Ensenada Restaurante in Santa Ana beginning about 3 p.m.

Perez was being held at the Orange County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment hearing on Dec. 8.

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